Pre-War Manila

[thereathing100]

I must admit I do get saddened how many times the Philippines have gotten colonized by other countries. I was there In August of 2011 and I was surprised on how much of the culture has been changed by occupiers. I'm American and I love the Philippines and its people and its culture but I wish I knew more about its first culture way before Spain. I did see a few structures in the rural areas that looked  in line with how buildings were back in the day. I just hate the loss of culture. God bless

[kukudruluorig]

Are comments here screened?

[yuannamendoza]

kasalanan ni quezon lahat kung bakit ganito pinas ngayon.. id rather see my country run like hell by filipinos,rather to see it run like heaven by foreigners.. yan quezon masmalala pa ngayon ang pinas sa hell.sana masaya kana..pero san ka tumakbo nung gyera sa mga foreigners.iniwan mo yung pilipinas.habang nagpapaksarap ka sa ibang bansa mga kababayan mo dito nagugutom at pinapatay..ganyan ba ang dakila?ni wala ka ngang speech na tagalog pano ka naging ama ng wikang filipino.. to webhop.tnx.

[larainne69]

Read this book “Manila men in the new world” you'll find some Mexicans their roots can be traced from the Philippines vice versa and Filipinos inherited some of Mexicans culture and tradition due to Galleon trade...Tatay which is dad in Filipino language for example is actually Aztecs (Nahuatl language)(amazon.com/dp/971542­5291/ref=nosim?tag=idigita-20&­linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creat­ive=380549)

[shauzcryn8]

saan yung fransiscan church?

[japokponents1]

sta. cruz church ata yan.

[nonatubero]

at 6:48 it's like someone texting, the man in white suit..he he..

[moviefan808]

Wow, this is really a beautiful video clip. So we had streetcars before the war. The first church that was shown, I think that was San Agustin Church. Magnificent video. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[cristobalito66]

A los norteamericanos siempre les dio envidia que España tuviera un imperio en que nunca se ponía el sol. En 1.898 quisieron deshispanizar el archipiélago pero no lo consiguieron pues aún se conservan las costumbres hispanas. Ellos carecen de verdadera cultura propia a no ser que lo sean Hollywood, Disney y Macdonalds.

[grapesofwrath1984]

Did they drive on the left side of the road? Odd.

[delayedricochet]

Japan did many horrible things as well as the Americans. Japan caused destruction and abused many Filipinos. The Americans did the same with their wars, even the Philippine-American war. Both Japan and the Americans were also the cause of ruining the country and Manila and its beauty, innovation, status and architecture/landmarks. The Americans went even further by shoving English down the Filipinos throats as a means to wipe out the Spanish language. They also made the schools/media biased.

[elcondor101]

thank you

[bebupalula]

how i wish i was alive at that time! experience the once glorious period of old manila! i heard manilans in the pre-war was more disciplined and well mannered compare to the present. i guess because of sudden immigration of other people in the provinces to dwell in the city causing the diminish of the capital!

[planetbans]

View my uploaded videos about the BATTLE OF MANILA 1945

AFTERMATH part 1-3 (Rare colour footages)

[barmtrail]

From a man who's father fought the Japs in the pacific during WW2. I can tell you that what the Japs did to woman kids and ofcourse soilders. And it was not good!!

They were pigs. On Guam they cut out babies from Guam woman with their bayonets. Not to mention what they did to the filipinos. The phillipines need america to protect them china and any other enemy that means them harm. Americans and the filipinos are friends. Believe me. We love one another and we share alot of history.

[sirach]

@barmtrail But we cannot forget the fact that the Americans ´liberated´ the country after bombing the most beautiful city of Intramuros, of prohibiting the Castilian language from being spoken, and made the Philippines biased against Spain...

[EnaraForenza]

They purposely destroyed Intramuros. They wanted to erase the entire Spanish heritage from Manila and throughout Philippines. Intramuros remembered too well Spanish Philippines, they bombed Intramuros, destroyed not only buildings, but killed all who lived there, al of them Spanishspeaking people ... I do not know how Filipinos feel today, but I do hate the Americans for that.

[1985jarhead]

explain why the americans attacked the philippines and left the city ruin 2nd most destroyed city like poland.. what a big mistake to underestimate the japs,then mcarthur said "i shall return" but he didnt. all i want to say to all FILIPINOs.. depends to our beloved nation not to others...dahil mahal ko ang PILIPINAS..so, DO YOU? a salute to all filipinos who fought that moment,.. pinagmamalaki ko kayo...God bless to your decendants..

[eriesal]

I suggest that you read the history to learn why the Philippines was involved in the conflict. The Americans never attacked the Philippines, it was Japan who did the bombing of Manila the day after Pearl Harbor. During the 1945 liberation, it was the atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Army that forced the Americans to liberate the entrapped Filipinos. War war is war, kill or be killed and destroy the enemies by all means. It was Japan who started it all.

[1985jarhead]

yes i know that... thankz.... but my point is we dont have to trust what other nation can do for us,..like u said "WAR is WAR"... soon they'll use us for their own Good...

[absolutblue]

Thank you for sharing this video..

[meetludius]

Manila's better days!

[meetludius]

...Then came Japan and devastated the city. Tsk tsk tsk!

[mrdiscus66]

American Imperialist propaganda.

[bartboucher]

Its interesting to know that Manillins have all ways driven like that;) LOL, I love the place.

[yosniper025]

masarap sana kung babalik ka sa nakaraan..hindi pa masyado malala ang polusyon..di katulad ngayon..

[foolmoi]

ughh american develoment

hahaha trying to americanized filipinos

[pitchynana]

sarap mabuhay noon magaan ang pamumuhay at ndi pa natutu mga official na MANGURAKOTT!!!! ngaun ang masarap lang na buhay mga naka upo sa govt... magbabayad din yang mga yan, kung ndi ngaun sa kabilang buhay!!

[sing1995]

Pyrosheen if you had defeated the Americans in 1898 there is a strong possibility you would have become part of Japan....... Just look at Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria, Russia- They were all annexed by Japan at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century....

[emperio2007]

noong panahon ng amerikano tayo pilipino ay sagana sa kagamitan at pagkain...mas masarap balikan ang nakaraan lalo nakapag pwede pa.

[psvsia5555]

(sigh) ... wish I could teleport back to that era. life was so much simpler, quieter then...

[pyrosheen]

If we the Filipinos, had won the War against America for independence in 1890-1920, We would have proclaimed our self's as an international super power, and be the heart of Asia, even surpassing Korea or Japan!

[crabmeat08]

we had little chance of defeating the american's though. plus we were really behind weapon wise..

[huwandelakrus]

kung hindi sana ipinagkanulo ng mga kapampangan si gen. aguinaldo sa mga amerikano..... hangang sa ngayon naghahari parin ang mga traydor sa tunay na kalayaan....

[GOBADONG]

ganda pag walang jeepney.

[grvc44]

its like you are in boston.

[eyaaah]

Sad to think this was all turned into ruins during world war 2

[crumblingtown]

Nice to see old manila,, specially intramuros,, as i had studied in the institute inside these walls.

[eyaaah]

Do you notice how people used to drive on the opposite side of the street?

[DMG125]

It's similar to many countries, I guess its after World War II that many drivers drive in the direction we drive in today

[TheSuicidebomb]

bombahin ng kano ang malacanang para maubos na ang mga magnanakaw pati narin batasan

[jmsevilla1]

its better off if we were handled by the japanese.look at their economy!they are even richer  than the americans!look at their technology.their love for the environment.they know how to handle things.

[spagget]

Philippines doesnt know how to handle things... :(

[xpressivist]

"Manila, born of American development"? Enough of this bullshit! First of all, many Americans like Mark Twain and the philosopher William James emphasized that the Americans had no moral and political right to invade and occupy the Philippines during this time. And secondly, our heroes and members of the Malolos Republic were more educated and capable of running the Philippines politically and economically than the Americans even before and during their military occupation of my country.

[jomelsb]

Hindi dapat nagpasakop ang mga Moro sa Maynila noong sakupin tayo ng mga Kastila,iyon ang nakalimutan natin mga Pilipino. . .ang matatawag nating "atin" ay ang alibata na sinira ng mga Kastila!

[deviousMonk]

Hindi naman sinira ang Alibata. Alibata is the spanish version of baybayin. The Spaniards actually preserved it, as they were already decaying from the original wooden bamboo surface. When the Spanish arrived in the Philippines they saw that Baybayin was already an extinct form of writing.

[veegee005]

kung ang mga hapon siguro ang gobyurno natin di nasa mga filipina pu punta sa japan para mag japayuki dito nalang sila sa pinas di na sila aalis ..ok ba !!!

[ice9fetus81]

uu,pero lahat ng babae dito eh gagahasain lang ng mga hapon.ang mga sanggol ay sasaksakin ng bayoneta at papatayin sa hirap ang mga kalalakihan.araw araw ganun gagawin nila.payag ka nun?

[xpressivist]

Our country was better off under the Americans. When the Americans handed over the rule of the country to Filipinos, the Philippines started to degenerate. This decay was encouraged by some Filipino idiotic politicians like Manuel Quezon who said: 'I would rather see the Philippines ruled by Filipinos like hell than see the Philippines ruled by Americans like heaven'. What a parochial and idiotic remark indeed! Only idiots like him would be happy to be ruled by Filipino politicians like hell.

[lookskywalker12]

xpressivist, yes, things would definitely be better if the americans had remained. but like a child, who would one day have to break free from the care of his parents, the philippines needed to be free from american rule. in that the americans have been wise to grant us independence. and let us not forget the sacrifices of countless men and women, to whom we owe the right to call ourselves FILIPINOS with pride

[dodong325]

Did the Americans REALLY handed over the rule of the country to the Filipinos? Did the Americans REALLY let the Philippines run its destiny? I thought that when they gave the Philippines its "independence", US was still very much a player in Philippine politics, military, foreign affairs, economy, etc.

We are naive to think that Philippine leaders did not "consult" with Washington for important decisions.

[iceandhot1961]

like before the place sucks...big time

[redsoil5]

Ang Maynila ngayon ang may pinaka dense o masikip na ciudad sa buong mundo.(2007 survey) source: Wikipedea.

Population density: 43,079 persons/ square kilometer

Area: 38.55 square kilometer

population: 1,660,714

[chardnj]

pwede naman gawin ulit maganda ang pinas bakit hindi.kaya naman natin basta magtutulungan lang naman tayo.mag start sa atin mga sarili na maging matapat sa bansa at mapagmahal sa atin kapwa filipino.respeto,at diciplina..hindi ba natin pwede gawin yun???tayo pa mga filipino.kayang kaya yan.

[jeremy23jacinto]

pwede kung mismo ang government ang tutulong

[cyther39]

prang may pagka europian style pla ung manila dti.. prang nsa paris.. mga structures nd buildings, statues.. sna n preserve e2,, intramuros nlng yta ung natira.. heheh

[cyther39]

andami na pla kotse noon tska mga tao sa manila,, ang ganda pla n2 dati.. lalo na ung bridge! nkaka relax cguro d2 dti.. so peaceful..

pre war pa e2,, bgo pa bombahin ng mga wlang hiyang hapon..

nkakalungkot,, sna gani2 prin hgang ngyon.. huhuhu

[matinik007]

The city was not damaged during the Japanese invasion because the city was declared "OPEN CITY"... the Japs came without meeting resistance.

Much of the damage to structures, especially the Intramuros area , were infilicted by the American bombings of parts of the city when they came to liberate Manila.

[sagitarian65]

matinik007, i absolutely agree with. I've it in History Channel that most of the damaged in Manila were done by the American soldeirs. They bombed the japanese hiding at the Intramuros and over a hundred thousand filipinos died because of that action. Americans mades us (filipinos) feel that we should be grateful to them. But the world (and many filipinos) forgot that it's a war between US and Japan and the Philippines paid the collateral damaged.

[cyther39]

wow! how did they do that screen effects on the intro.. they must be using powerpoint or something.. heheheh

[IkiriRiri]

Wow they called that traffic at that time!

[Palakol13]

Old skul..

[arcadia700]

I agree with axcelheart20. Had the Philippines been colonized a lil longer (or for good) by the US, it's more likely that we are more progressive right now. True, the Phils have had problems since the American regime but the downhill roll, the mismanagement galore, really started when we were left to manage ourselves.

[boyisnu]

agreed!!!

[jeremy23jacinto]

i like the idea

[webhop]

This is a video that purportedly shows US success in the Philippines so, of course, you won't see anything negative. Don't kid yourselves, guys. The Philippines was never without problems. It was never perfect. The Philippines is horribly mismanaged. Whose fault is that? You are the ones who voted for these incompetent and corrupt officials.

[axcelheart20]

id rather be a second class in my own country than watching my fellow countrymen suffering from starvation,malnutrition, crimes,corruptions and try to see the philippines today most of our countrymen leave their motherland to make brighter future and foreignland its more hard to accept just to gain money and save there families back in hunger..that's the reality and it really hurts..

[axcelheart20]

i wish i could turn back the time to be in the old philippines it just so perfect to watch so lovely..

[biencas]

At isang hindi natin makikita dito sa video na ito ay jeepney, kahit na isa.

[5tga602sanpablo]

ngayon ko lang nalaman na noon pala ang direction ng mga sasakyan ay sa kaliwa.

[tawewek]

wala pang mga bisaya noon sa manila, dahil mahal daw ang pamasahe sa barko at bukod sa matagal.. un ang sabi ng lola ko,

[pilipinas1898]

Wow! Ang ganda!

[krispaks]

wow breath taking. anong year tong video?

[krutsai]

this nation ruined by politicians and friars. of all the catholic countries only mexico prospers coz they didnt allow the church to control the government. unlike here priests enter politics. pigs!

[TachieBillano]

Not Mexico, but Ireland. Ireland is the Catholic country that's today's "Celtic Tiger" in Europe. Mexico isn't doing very well. It's actually about as globally competitive as the Philippines. Which therefore leads to the conclusion that economic prosperity has VERY LITTLE to do with whether or not priests enter politics, or even religion, period. Rather, it's how WE Filipinos ALL contribute to the improvement of the country that dictate whether we prosper or not.

[baog36]

ganda pala ng pilipinas noon, very peaceful at less populated

[mermolius]

korek ka jan!

[pilipinas1898]

Wow Philippines!

[drifterZ00]

"Strong people will not talk about past glories"

we should not linger at the past any longer. however, it is sad to say that most of our countrymen still glorify the past over and over, denying reality as what it is right now.

[tomtos2000]

dapat naubus mga yan...daming tao sa pinas at dapat kalahati ang ubos..lol

[giantsockmonkey]

Oh gosh, those boats are beautiful :)

[akoanani]

Salamat sa video at least makita ko man lang ang aking bansa...

[gunpder94]

I like it (2x)

[mienoxchan]

This Doc is truly fabulous history of d Phils. Well, some unaware, misinformed and lack of knowledge would learn here the true origin of Filipinos before the corruption became rampant to these days...

I love this video... It's fabulous to learn the early Phils (reality) before the mal-practice of corruption became part of the culture...

Thanks for the edifying Doc!

[besodelobo]

muy interesante el documental

[divemaster29]

wow manila!!!

[oreztnega]

i was awestruck with this video just seeing manila in its old splendor is really inspiring but at the same time it made me sad to see how much things have changed for the worst since those times.

[jjm76mmj82]

i agree with you webhop.

[bscs2a]

Manila was great before because of the Spaniards and Americans. but when the Filipino's learned how to rule its country well its the beginning of our sufferings until today. i think much better if other country would lead us may be Philippines will be one of the greatest country in the world. i love being Filipino but may be we are not yet ready to lead our own country. we need first to know the need of our countrymen and to love our own country not our own selves. just my personal opinion.

[webhop]

This comment just makes me really sad. Two things to think about. Has it occurred to you that the reason the country is messed up is precisely because of Spain and the USA? And secondly, how would you feel living back then being treated as a second class citizen in your own country because you have brown skin? The country's salvation will not come from foreigners but your own Filipino hands. Stop waiting for others to save you. Save yourself.

[coy6642126]

Very well said!

[arcadia700]

It's nice to be nationalistic and all (it also sounds nice btw) but looking back it would have really done us a lot better if the country remained a colony of the US much longer.Look at other used-to-be colonies of western/europoean powers e.g. Guam, HK, Singapore, NZ, etc. they are damn better off than us. Ok we may not be 2nd class citizens now in our country but our countrymen are starving & forced to work abroad where they become less than 2nd class -- raped, abused, murdered.

[webhop]

Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States and makes money off tourism and the US bases. It's hardly an economic success story. Hong Kong is flourishing even AFTER the British left. Singapore and New Zealand flourished AFTER their colonizers left. These countries thrived AFTER the colonizers left as you yourself noted. I don't see how this would have left you with a conclusion that we would have been better off under the USA.

[TachieBillano]

Amen. It's time we realize that we Filipinos make who we are, and that foreign conquerors were merely that: conquerors. None of should even be saying that we should have stayed on as colonies of this empire or that country...it's downright sinful towards our selves and our growth as a people.

[arcadia700]

Ok the Philippines hasn't been a colony for many years..then why do you think we are worse off now? I base my 'worse-off' description on my seeing more hungry people in the streets, more unenducated youths, more beggars and mentally-ill folks roaming around. Like you perhaps, I wasn't born during the colony years..but our old folks (at least the ones who are alive still) surely have much rosier stories to tell.

[webhop]

No one is arguing that the Philippines is in very, very dire straits. However, we need to stop acting like babies waiting for others to feed us and change our diapers. We need to grow up, step up to the plate and figure how you and I, as individuals and as a people, can change things. We do that by the small decisions we make everyday, speaking up when an injustice is committed and helping others without being asked. Change can happen in small increments. Every little gesture helps.

[arcadia700]

..trial...

[arcadia700]

Neither am I arguing your points that we as a people,need to grow up and help ourselves. But we've been trying to do just that since the time we were granted our independence. Yet the dire straits we're in is an evidence that we have failed thus far.

[unearth1980]

webhop Well thats one thing that we Filipinos cannot do in our lifetime. Hmmmmm maybe are future generation will.

[webhop]

What is up with the loser attitude? Change happens with you right now with the choices that you make and the actions that you take at this moment. Get over the past already. It's over and done with. The future starts a second from now. What you are doing now to ensure that there is a brighter, better future is what matters.

[klaytoris]

nice vid.thx for uploading.

[erickmontre]

Sana inabut ko pa itong early years nang pilipinas. siguro, napakaganda at masarap ang buhay noon? walang politika,traffic, usok at kokonti pa ang mga tao? pilipinas sayang ka. sinira ka nang mga pilipino.... mabuti pa ang mga dayuhan. ay inalagaan ka. espaniol,amerikano, chinese & japanese bakit ba kayon umalis? sana hindi kayo nagpatalo sa mga pilipino. tingnan niyo ngayon. pinoy kapwa pinoy nagpapatayan. sana bumalik kayo, para ayusin ang pilipinas. na sinayang at sinira ng mga pilipino.

[mic1mad]

The Americans had a lot to do with it.

[junevi2000]

After the war Manila was almost totally destroyed similar to what happened to warsaw in Poland a total devastation, not as a result of Japanese invasion but by the bombing of the american. Its like getting rid of rats by setting the whole house on fire. After the war the japanese helped more financially in rebuilding the Philippines.

[ryansantos20]

Yes, the Japanese did help rebuild, in the form of war reparations. They didn't have a choice. They had to pay for raping the city. Let's not forget that it was their fault to begin with.

[poolboyinla]

Not much has changed. Thank you for the upload.

When was this maid? Is Jones bridge still up? I havn't seen it.

Where did you get this film?

[webhop]

A lot has changed actually. Unfortunately, Manila has gotten ugly due to terrible urban planning. I believe this was made during the American occupation of the Philippines prior to World War II.

[ssyoki]

Ang ganda pala ng Manila nung araw.

[ssyoki]

Escolta and Rizal Avenue somehow remind me of Madrid. Wish they were restored the way they were in the pre-war.

[webhop]

Most of the ones that was shown here, I believe, are still up. Manila was almost totally destroyed during WW 2.

[fozzybear702]

You can not know how much this reminded me of my youth on the Big Island of Hawaii. Do those buildings still exist, did they survive the war?